A 41-gun salute was performed today by the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery in London's Green Park.

A 62-gun salute rang out at Gun Wharf, Tower of London by the Honourable Artillery Company, while gunners from the 105th Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers) fired a 21-gun salute at Edinburgh Castle.

The Queen spent the day in private at Sandringham, as is her custom. It is a sombre day for Her Majesty, as it marks the moment her father King George VI died, leaving her to take the throne at the age of 25.

He died on February 6 1952 at the royal estate in Norfolk after suffering from lung cancer.

The Queen was thousands of miles away at the time in Kenya, watching big game in the Treetops Hotel with the Duke of Edinburgh, unaware of the momentous duty that had fallen upon her shoulders. Philip broke the sad news to his wife and the royal couple returned immediately to Britain.

Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall hosted a reception at Clarence House for Australians and New Zealanders.

This year will see the Queen will mark the 60th anniversary of her coronation, which was held on June 2, 1953.

A service of celebration will be held on June 4 at Westminster Abbey. The royal family will attend and also expected amongst the congregation will be foreign dignitaries, the Cabinet and defence chiefs.

The coronation will also be marked by a four-day festival in Buckingham Palace Gardens in July.

The Queen will return to Buckingham Palace next week following her annual break in Norfolk over the Christmas period.